So I felt like blogging...

 and I had a few things to talk about... so this post happened :)

So this last weekend Hillary and the Paps came over. We headed about 15 min away for the WKC agility trial Saturday and Sunday.

While it was not our highest Q rate weekend. Infact we went 2/10 (which is better than the 1/12 and 1/6 at the last 2 trials!!).  It was the best feeling trial in months. Probably even ever? Maybe minus Leaps first trial but I don't know... maybe even beat that?

I came away from our last two trials totally frustrated and at my wits end. I just didn't think anything was ever gonna come into shape. Skye did good getting his first MX leg and MACH points but his jumpers runs were a mess. Even the Q run was just not that connecting. I don't know... something felt off. It was awesome getting it... just not the best.

Leap... we won't even go where she went. After a few really super awesome runs... she found her crazy. Her first runs in shows were just nervous/un easy dog really. Then she turned into psycho dog that had so many faults on her paper you would have never guessed she got both her novice titles (3 totally clean runs) with a total of 1 refusal in each of the other 3 runs I think!

I was feeling so down and disconnected... and while happy for my friends who were Q'ing left and right I felt really just... blah. Ready to be done trialing for awhile...

We had this one last trial. I was really just going for fun and to maybe feel a little more connected... or if anything find out what we need to work on.

I came out with all that... plus 2 Q's, a New Title, and some kick butt close runs!

My runs felt so good. Better than any of my past Q'ing runs this summer. Even the NQ ones.

 I got too many compliments to count about how connected me and Skye were on course. The best part? I felt it. 


Everything they said I felt. I could see Skye watching all eyes on me and pushing everything he had for me. And the same goes for me to him.

Even his NQ runs felt so freakin smooth and nice! Just silly stuff that NQ'd us really... mostly all my fault!!

Leap even gave me MUCH better runs. Not perfect and no Q's... but I felt SO much better after he runs. Her last one was the only one I felt off (bad crazy girl!!)... hence why after a few jumps and a teeter we left the course. We were getting no where and no point to keep going when that is the opposite of what I want! Most of her runs were sooooo much better though. Some really really nice points!

The runs I liked most was probably Open Jumpers sunday with both dogs. No Qs but there was a middle part walking it that was like long straight lines. I kind of said ugh, never gonna get this! Then in the middle of Skye's run I said what the heck... RUN! So I did just that... and know what? We got that part PERFECTLY with both dogs! Everyone commented how nice it looked with both of them. I just about beat them down the line and trusted them to just do it... and it worked! I have a hard time with things like that. I know its bad... I am working on it. After seeing how good it was in a trial setting though... for sure something to work on doing more! I also didn't think *I* could do it... I guess I can ;)

Next up was probably both Skye's Standard Runs. Saturday he took a wrong course after the chute (all my fault!!) and a bar. He had this BEAST layering/send though that I heard people talking about all day long :D I got behind him and the judge was RIGHT in my way to catch up so I just said GO and he took the line right around when there was an a-frame, teeter, and tire all between us!!!!!! I was pretty proud of that :D I seriously hardly even remember the Q run and it sadly isn't on tape... I remember it was nice though. I ran it like 4 dogs after running Leap in jumpers (and skye in jumpers just a few dogs before her!!). I just ran and he gave him it all and he did the same. Super nice - the gate steward stopped me on the way back to my tent to tell me how nice it looked and how good my dog was :D Along with other people stopping by the tent all day to say how they had been in awe of Skye all weekend :)

FAST runs were supperrr nice. Skye Q'd and Leap was one little paw out of the yellow on the a-frame from q'ing! Her first blown a-frame I think... like ever!

So... basically. My dogs rock and we may finally be hitting a stride again :) We are gonna have a few months off now for training. Might do one day in December with Skye but Leap won't show again till January. We have some work to do and umm, maybe a new 26" competitor ;)

I am running on I guess what you could call a connection high right now. Not really from the Q's/Title... but from FEELING good about all my runs.

So here is where we stand -
Skye - Feeling smooth and working out the kinks! Some work to do to get these Jumpers Q's going but thats mostly it. Titles in progress - MX 2/10, OAJ 0/3, XF 0/3.
Leap - starting to get it figured out and gonna work on maybe doing 26" for awhile at least. Titles in progress - OA 0/3, OAJ 1/3, NF 1/3.

And of course... having fun!

If you read all that you get a Gold Star and sorry for the jumbled mess of thoughts... I need to get them out :p

It's a Long Shot...

just to beat these odds. The chance is we won't make it. But if I don't take it, theres no chance. 'Cause your the best I got. So take a long shot. 


 So much to talk about in this post.

First off.... Leaps First Trial. OMG. I could NOT be prouder!!! The Results?
Novice Standard: Day 1: Q/1st/32 Secs, Day 2: Q/1st/32 secs - Both TOTALLY Clean!!
Novice Jumpers: Day 1: Q/2nd/19.99 Secs (Clean!!) Day 2:NQ/Wrong Course/My Fault!
Novice FAST: Day 1: Q/3rd/66 points Day 2: NQ/BADDDD Handler + Crazy Dog

Skye also rocked it out... Still no Open Jumpers Q's - but he came home with TWO Exc A Standard Q's both with first place (both 44 secs)!! So Proud! 1 more to AX!!!

So this coming weekend... we could have THREE new titles! Leaps NA and NAJ and Skye's AX... Hoping for at least one Open Jumpers Q too!

Which brings me too the next part of my update. Mental Game. 
Since last weekend it has been on my mind a LOT. Something that after thinking about it... SO many people don't think about.

I mean think about it... once you have a small problem in something. It gets in your head. I know that I do it with Skye. ALL THE TIME.

That crazy dog in jumpers, or that one darn refusal, or that one blown contact, or that one bar, not doing the teeter, or any of those "chronic" problems we have! It gets to the point that WE expect it to happen!

We now have almost 2 titles MORE in Standard than in Jumpers. Because I let it get in my head. I find myself DREADING Jumpers. I try to blame it on my dog doing dumb things. If I would just kick it out of my head it would go SO much better. Step to that line like we have never had a problem. BELIEVE we can do it. I try to tell myself I do... but I don't. It is something I need to keep working on. I think after really realizing this though hopefully this weekend will go better.

Leap did so amazing going 3 for 3 her first day all perfectly clean. Why? Because I expected NOTHING. Day 2 I blew her first 2 runs because we had car trouble that had me off in lala land and then I expected her to do good again. When I sat and thought about it and kicked it out for Standard... another perfectly clean run!

I ask of nothing from my baby dog because I just wanted to have fun... so why am I NOT doing that with my older dog? It always seems the funnest/best runs are when you don't TRY.

Skye was in Novice for a good 6-7 trials. Maybe even more. It felt like forever over one dumb thing. It was the same as we are stuck now in jumpers. We got out when I tried having fun. When I just went with what he gave and enjoyed running my dog. When I saw my friend lose her dog way too young and when I decided to just be thankful to run him.  Because really... that is a miracle.  (which reminds me I need to make a post about Skye's journey from start to now... its a doozy!)

So this weekend... my goal? Put everything to the side. Run my dogs for fun and just go with it. Whatever the outcome... it doesn't carry to the next run or the time with them. Because every second of that is precious. Why waste it dwelling on what has been or could be.

I won't sike myself out. I won't let my dog down. I will run for the fun. I mean my dog is so awesome she might have Novice titles in TWO shows!! And my other is in EXCELLENT 1 Q from starting on MACH when people told me he would never even compete. I have some pretty awesome dogs.... and I need to remember that again!

When everything is out...

"You gotta take it in - Oh this has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life, good life" 

So much going on in the land of crazy border collies and agility crazy handler :) 

Firstly, Skye turned FIVE! He enjoyed eating whatever he wanted (we shared ritz crackers and some spaghetti!), getting belly scratches, playing with his new toys (but mostly his loved tennis ball!), and a little bit of agility :) He also got his OA title certificate so he is now officially - Ammardans Skyes the Limit CGC OA NAJ NF 2/3 OF 0/3 OAJ :) 

Second, Leap dog has been with us a whole YEAR as of yesterday!! It has been a fun and crazy year with her. We celebrated by going to her first "big girl" agility class! I was kind of worried thinking "oh boy we will sooo look like a novice here!". But, my intense foundation work payed off in HEAPS. Other than a few bad mistakes on my part and a few crazy baby dog moments (like flying off the teeter without even tipping it a tiny bit!). She ROCKED it out!! She breezed over the broad jump with no problem (she had only been on it once and that was first time full size. She has yet to tick it and acted like she had done it forever! It was hard angles too!).  I was soooo proud! For a 14 month old (today!!) she is a rockstar!!

Third, I got my Vibram shoes!! I love them so far! Took a little getting used too but now they are awesome though! I also just ordered my USA Agility Team supporter shirt... you get one too ;) Cheer on Tori, Rev, Daisy, and Solar and all the other amazing people on the team this year!!! Also all the dogs have new collars on the way from Collar Mania! So excited for those :D 

We rented the agility field last week. It was so much fun and we got a lot worked on :) Here is video....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLKC-9-balk

We have been out of internet for over a week now so this post is coming to you from my dads office at church.  You should all feel special I remembered to update ;) 

The next month is looking crazy busy. Agility Trials, Training, Church (VBS!!), Moving... you know the usual ;) 

So that is all for now but more to come later!!! 

It's like new training and things...

 So yesterday me and Skye head out to a new agility class. Our classes we were taking have hit a rough spot. Not only could we not get there most weeks but it just wasn't giving us what it had before. Don't get me wrong it was GREAT. I loved the people. It just wasn't working.

So, low and behold. I was SO lucky to find out that Rosanne DeMascio (2 year in a row and current NAC 20" winner among many other great things!) moved close to me and with her mom, Barb. They have started holding classes too!

 We had SO much fun. And wouldn't you know... the many bar wonder Skye... Took all of 2 bars. The whole time. Out of 4, 10-12 obstacle courses to equal about 40+ jumps. He took TWO!

 He was a rockstar all around :) Other than me being a fail handler he did SO well. (Umm, well... we won't speak of his contacts!).

 We mostly work on serpentine/threadle type work. Much more international/usdaa styled stuff that we haven't done a lot of. I really thought Skye wouldn't like it or do well with it either. He LOVED it though!

 I have NEVER been able to master backsides with him. He just has never got them. What do I know... with just a few little suggestions from Rosanne (before we even ran it). He was doing them like a pro! I guess it really WAS me. Even though Leap has always done them like a rockstar.

 He had a retard dog walk (as usual) and only hit and held his a-frame once. Other than that he did SOOOO well though!

It was HOT as all get out (95 and sunny with HIGH humidity!). The kiddie pool was nice for the dogs to cool down though.

I am excited to go back and take Leap (who is on "in heat" house arrest!).  I will try to get video next time too ;)

Lets Fly!

 Okay, Blog try number... 4??

 I REALLY think this one will work though! I am determined!

It has been a crazy few weeks here. So I will post more when I get caught up! But for now... here it is!